PARTNERS Clinic

PARTNERS Clinic (Preventing Adverse Reactions To Negative Events and Related Stress) is where we provide free assessment and therapy to traumatized youth and their caregivers. We specialize in treating victim-survivors of interpersonal violence, including sexual abuse, excessive physical discipline, death of a loved one due to violence, or witnessing domestic violence. The program serves youth, ages 4-17, who are experiencing trauma-related PTSD, depression, and/or serious behavior problems (e.g., aggression). Services are provided to anyone in the NYC area; PARTNERS clients often live in the surrounding multicultural communities of Queens.

At PARTNERS, two trauma-specific therapies are offered: Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for sexually-abused children and their non-abusive caregivers, and Alternatives for Families: a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for physically-abused children and their abusive caregivers. We provide therapy in an ecological framework, meaning that we consider the child in the context of family, community, and culture. Our staff works to be culturally sensitive and linguistically accessible. In addition to English and Spanish, children and their families have been treated in French, Hindi and Urdu; and we have offered services in Hebrew and Mandarin. We have applied for grants to enable us to continue to translate therapy into whatever languages are required to meet the needs of the multicultural communities we serve. Weekday evenings and Saturday sessions are available, per clinician availability. Snacks and childcare are also provided.

Since its inception in 2001, PARTNERS has provided mental health care to over 1,000 trauma survivors. Over the past year, 67% of PARTNERS’ referrals were victims of sexual abuse, 9% were victims of physical abuse, 3% suffered from bereavement due to trauma, and 21% were victims of multiple forms of trauma. Almost 80% of the families we served were African American, Caribbean, Latino, or multiracial. Twenty percent of our youth were bilingual, often with caregivers who were not fluent in English.

Our track record

• Since its inception in 2001, PARTNERS has provided mental health care to over 1,000 trauma survivors
• Over the past year, 67% of PARTNERS’ referrals were victims of sexual abuse, 9% were victims of physical abuse, 3% suffered from bereavement due to trauma, and 21% were victims of multiple forms of trauma
• Almost 80% of the families we served were African American, Caribbean, Latino, or multiracial
• Twenty percent of our youth were bilingual, often with caregivers who were not fluent in English
• Approximately 83% of children served by the PARTNERS Clinic meet criteria for PTSD as baseline assessment. Following treatment at PARTNERS, fewer than 10% meet criteria for PTSD. Similar patterns are evidenced for depression and acting out behaviors

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